Horror stories about a stranded cruise liner, coupled with reading Paul Theroux’s classic "The Great Railway Bazaar," leads to the conclusion staying home may be the best option.

Theroux learned to his chagrin it was sometimes hard to find enough to eat while traveling from London to Asia by rail. In addition, the author was often less than enthralled by the “must-see” sites along the way.

Perhaps the leading literary stay-at-home of all time said it best.

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. - Marcel Proust

On the other hand, if Paul Theroux had waited for new eyes we might not have "The Great Railway Bazaar," "The Old Patagonian Express," "Riding the Iron Rooster," or other of the author’s adventures set to print.

Tom Martin is to be thanked for directing me to the travel writings of Paul Theroux.